Az apolitikusság mítosza és a demokratikus aktivitás

In our study, we examine the relationship of Hungarian people to public affairs and civil-political action from a new perspective. This approach has two elements. Theoretically, we argue that within a western-based theoretical framework the interpretation of political action is fundamentally based on Western societal patterns. We contend that this theoretical framework fails to account for significant factors influencing political action, such as the impact of Hungarian historical past and present political systems. Therefore, it is not suitable for uncovering all dimensions of individual political-civil behavior and participation in public affairs that would be relevant specifically in Hungary. Methodologically, we argue that a qualitative approach – narrative interview techniques – can be more suitable to explore these new dimensions. We believe that this dual perspective shift can bring us closer to understanding how Hungarians relate to their public affairs. The most significant conclusion from the empirical analysis presented in the study is that even seemingly politically passive interviewees exhibit reflections on public issues, challenging the notion of them being apolitical.